Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for this version of Kase. Goofy, happy.  Rollerblades in the house (to ask if his friend could pull him on the electric scooter like this to Casey's.  I said yes, obviously.) Sucker in his mouth.  All the summertime shenanigans going on around here.

I'm thankful for a sweet comment from a mom of an elementary school friend of Kylee.  Sometimes people just go out of their way to say nice things and it makes me want to do the same.

I'm thankful for the time to make a quick trip to Pella to drop something off to Kael that he left here over the weekend.  Love seeing him. Love having no job that I have to work around to be able to make that happen. Thankful for Kent and his success that has made this a reality for me.

I'm thankful for no school Friday.  YAY!!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 First things first I want to say that I'm so happy for Kent that he passed his test on Thursday! He's been putting in the time studying and I'm so proud of him- I knew he would do it!

I'm thankful Kael came home this weekend! I just love the energy in the house when he's home and how it feels full again- loved catching up with him and love how much he loves seeing family.  He got to go watch Brooklyn play volleyball and also come to Kase's games.

I'm thankful for an opposing coach who pulled Kase aside after his game on Saturday and told Kase, "You're the hardest worker out there.  Keep leading and your team will follow." So kind of him to take the time to encourage Kase like that and so awesome that Kase stood out enough for him to comment!

I'm thankful Kael still loves his annual Valentine gift- a photo book.  I couldn't believe he took the time to look at every page and tell me how much he loves that I still do this for him.

Just realized I've been writing this Weekend Wrap-Up as a Thankful Thursday so I'm going to reset here quick-

Friday night Kylee had a looooong run outside in the wind on a gravel road. Needless to say she was happy when it was over! She had a Junkyard game night later and then called it an early night.

Kent and Kase had baseball then Kase went with a friend to the Jag bball game. 

Saturday morning Kent and Kase went to watch a best buddy wrestle at state!

Kylee went to the gym then got some homework done then hung out with her boyfriend.  Kael went with my parents to Brooklyn's games and Keith and Cindy and Kent and I went to Kase's basketball.  My parents and Kael, Kylee and Garrett joined at the games later. It was a rough day for our team going 0-3.  Kase played his heart out though and I'm always proud of his effort and the way he handles himself on the court. But I think none of us are devastated that the season is over- ha. 

We went for dinner when we got back in town and Kase got invited to a sleepover but at the last minute we decided to have him just stay home so he played FortNite with some basketball buddies.  Kylee and Garrett hung out and Kent and I enjoyed time to catch up with Kael!

Sunday morning the kids slept in and we went to late church. Afterwards Kylee had a meeting and Kase spent the entire day playing with friends outside- it was JUST the day he needed! Kael's girlfriend came over and they went for ice cream and met up with another of Kael's friends then later just went for a drive, hung out around here- it was so nice having him home and happy Emma could come over too! Kylee spent the afternoon going for a walk with Kent, organizing her room and hanging out with Garrett. She was having kind of a bummer day finding out some friends were together without her so I was happy G could come over and cheer her up. I had a baby shower to go to then spent the afternoon going for a walk and doing stuff around the house.  Later we have the loveliest family dinner- grilled steaks and enjoyed being together around the table before Kael headed back to school. 

The warm weather and also the end of basketball season make it feel like we're closing the chapter on winter and headed for spring and we are SO ready for it! Bring on the sunshine, track, baseball and all the outside time! 

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for Junkyard for my kids.  

I'm thankful these two have each other!

I'm thankful Kael is coming home this weekend!

I'm thankful for the nice weather- Kase has LOVED being outside all week!

I'm thankful for a good start to the track season for Kylee.

Happy almost weekend! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Fun weekend around here!

Kylee and G went out for Valentine's Day ice cream after youth group. 

We watched Caitlin Clark break the record and Kase celebrated with some of her cereal!

Kase's team got first place in the Cage Ball tournament at school.

My parents went to watch Kael throw at Wartburg on Saturday.  So thankful for our village who can support my kids when they are all in different places!

Kylee volunteered with the church group for Day of Love. This is a faovirte event every year!

Kent put the finishing touches on his baseball workout spot in the garage.  

Kase had basketball all weekend and the boys went 3-1 including a nailbiter on Sunday morning! Kase got fouled and drained both of his free throws to secure the win.

Kylee had a long run, Kent had a rotary training (he's going to be president next year), he and I fit in a dinner date, Kase hung out at a friend's house late (lobbied hard for a sleepover but in the end he came home and got a good night sleep), we enjoyed the sunshine and went for a walk. Later Kylee and her boyfriend went out for a belated Valentine dinner.  

We have a busy week ahead- wrapping up basketball but Kylee is starting track! Have a good week everyone!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that Kase set a record at his workout for the first sixth grader to run under a 1.7 in the 10m dash! I'm doubly thankful that he was super humble about it and didn't really want to tell any of his friends or even Kael and Kylee.  Kase is a hard worker and definitely not a bragger. Super proud of him for his speed and humility!

I'm thankful for Kylee's sweet boyfriend.  He came over on Tuesday night to set up a Valentine surprise for her (flowers, balloons, gifts) so he could see her when she got home from work.  Those two have very busy schedules so it was really thoughtful how he made time to make her feel special for Valentine's!

I'm thankful for beautiful weather to be able to run outside lately. 

I'm thankful that I got to spend Valentine's night at home with my favorite guy.  I'm the luckiest.  

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Thursday night we celebrated my dad's birthday with dinner out at the Big Steer.  What a great night! Great food and time spent with some of my very favorite people. 

Kael drove from Pella to join the fun! Love that he wanted to be there and it's always so good to see him.

Never Idle- love this hat for my dad and also pretty fitting that it's Kase in the photo with him- ha.  He's also never idle!

The whole gang.  Plus my mom who is always so good about taking pictures! Kase said it was the best steak he'd ever had, my dad loved his meal and we even shared three desserts that were amazing so by all accounts a wonderful night. 

Earlier that morning my dad stopped by for some lemon cake I made him.  I am thankful to have time for special moments like this- to take the time to make a cake for my dad.  I'll always think of him with lemon desserts!

Birthday boy.

Friday night Kylee participated in Beats by Jags which is a group she is a part of with the special needs PE class she does.  This was so cool and I loved seeing her out there.

Kent and Kase and Crew had a great baseball practice then we took a few boys up to the basketball game too. Fun, easy night.

Saturday Kase had three games in Pella.  His team went 2-1 and he played great.  He really looked like a leader out there.  Plus we got to stop at his favorite bakery with some buddies so he was a happy guy.  Kael threw in Grinnell and Keith, Cindy and Kent went to watch him.  His girlfriend also went! Sounds like it was a fun day and shot went well but he scratched in the weight. 

Kylee had a long run and tons of homework (she's applying for National Honor Society and also taking the Seal of Biliteracy exam soon in addition to the work she has for The Walk at church) then her boyfriend came over and I think they were thrilled for a relaxing evening.  Kase had a couple buddies come over to shoot baskets and play FortNite.  Kent worked on a project in our garage- he's making a baseball workout area and he couldn't be happier about it. 

Sunday Kael came home! So great to have him around.  Kylee swam then had a meeting at church and later today we plan to have a whole gang over for the SuperBowl! Kase is having friends over and Kael and Kylee are both having their significant others over so it should be a great night! 

Weekend Wrap-Up and Thankful Thursday

 It's been a great long weekend!

Thursday I went to Pella to see Kael.  We had a lovely brunch then walked around up town for a bit then drove around just chatting.  Love catching up with him!

Friday after school Kylee and I took off for a girl's trip to Arizona! She is the best/easiest travel partner.

Her Spanish teacher (Aunt Tammy) would be proud- reading her Spanish books on the plane!

Smooth, direct flight and before we knew it we were in Scottsdale at the beautiful Omni!

Dinner at the hotel was so, so good. 

And it beautiful! All the fountains and the architecture- reminded me so much of Spain.

We got up the next morning and sat in the hot tub- with an amazing view of Camelback!

We fueled up with a great breakfast.

Explored our hotel grounds a bit. 

Then took off to hike Camelback! We chose the more difficult (but closer trailhead to our hotel) hike. 

We had the best time.  It really wasn't terribly hard- we were prepared with plenty of water and had gone early enough in the morning that it wasn't hot.

The hike definitely got steep and rocky towards the end!

That view!!! Soooo worth it.

What a fun, special memory to have with Kylee.  It was just a great morning. 

We headed back to our resort for lunch.

And gelato happy hour!

I couldn't stop taking pictures it was so pretty there.

We spent a little time by the pool.

Kylee loved the orange trees.

Then we met up with some friends for dinner! We enjoyed walking around Old Town.

It was so, so great to catch up with them!

And have ice cream at the iconic Sugar Bowl!

Kylee saw her first shooting star ever on the walk back to our room that night! I didn't capture it on camera but the sky was so clear.

The next morning I took a little walk to grab coffee.

Then we had the most delicious breakfast at our resort.

I mean, how pretty is that yogurt?!

We took a short walk the other direction from our hotel that we hadn't explored yet.

Then hit the spa! We had massages and facials- what a treat.

Back to the resort.

Palm tree selfie.

I just couldn't stop taking pictures! Kylee was a good sport about it and honestly I think she loved the greenery and orange trees and flowers as much as I did!

Not a bad view for the afternoon!

Poolside chips and guac.  A vacation staple for us!

Love, love, LOVE this girl.

Our friends came to join us to hang by the pool and of course walk to gelato happy hour again! 

Ahhh.  Sunshine.  Girl time. So good for the soul.

We got cleaned up and headed for dinner.

My friend brought her convertible which was lovely for so many reasons! It was fun, we got a scenic, guided tour of the city from some locals, and we didn't have to Uber! 

SO fun.

We had a great Italian dinner with them then headed back to our resort.  The next morning we had a little time to grab breakfast, walk (we had seen all these cute chairs and hammocks all around the property so we made it our goal to sit in all of them and try them all out), then it was time to pack up and head home. 

Kylee had been dying to pick an orange all trip- ha! She squeezed it in to orange juice and said it was terrible- so tart!

It was such a lovely trip with Kylee and I'm so thankful to Kent who encouraged us to take this trip and booked our flights and hotel for us.  He really is the best and I'm just so lucky we have the resources to take the time to make these kind of memories!!! 

Meanwhile back home Kent was busy with Kase and crew.  He had double sleepover, went to a basketball game with friends, went to Urban Air, did baseball workouts and had a practice, spent alllll day outside on Monday when there was no school and it was nice out. Also he had gone snowboarding with the a group from church on Saturday and said he was flying down the hill and even doing tricks- he LOVED it. 

Kael had a great weekend too- he PR'd in the weight throw and then got to spend all day Sunday with his girlfriend celebrating her birthday! Love these two.

Kylee and I got home Monday evening just before Kase left for basketball practice and I'm so glad we did because he was SO proud and excited to show us the red velvet cake the boys had made for us to welcome us home! He had gone with Kent to the store and picked it out and then Kent baked it for us while Kase played with his friends.  What a lovely surprise to come home too! Kase had time to have a few bites with me before he left and said excitedly, "It tastes just like Simon's!" which is our favorite place. I couldn't believe Kent had taken the time to bake for us while we were away.  So sweet.  The house was also clean and the laundry was done- really, really thoughtful for Kent to have all of that taken care of! 

Feeling so thankful for my family and for this amazing weekend we all had!